Rural roads offer joys and risks

Rural roads pose unique hazards and see more fatal collisions than any other area in Ottawa. Feature story Ottawa is the fourth largest city in Canada based on population, but our geographic size makes us larger than Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal combined. Much of that area is made up of farmland and rural roads. Those rural roads are a nice change of pace from the congested streets in more urban settings, but they pose their own unique hazards. When a collision occurs it often comes at a greater cost. Rural roads see a higher number of fatal collisions than any other area in our city. Between 2019 and 2023, there were 149 collisions on rural roads in Ottawa that resulted in a major injury or fatality. Forty-five of those collisions resulted in fatalities. Some of the risks directly related to driver behaviour include:

• Speeding
• Failing to stop at intersections
• Impaired driving (drugs and alcohol)

Motorists may also encounter unexpected hazards such as wildlife but there are things that you can do to keep everyone safe: 

• Scan the sides of the road ahead, looking for animals or movement 
• Come to a complete stop at stop signs
• Slow down before entering a curve on rural roads
• In low light conditions, use your high beams to look for any reflection from wildlife 
• Follow the speed limit, so that you have time to react safely and decrease damage to you and your vehicle 
• Slow down when conditions are snowy, wet, foggy, or icy since your stopping distance may be longer 
• Be extra cautious when you see a yellow sign indicating deer are frequently in the area 
• Avoid all distractions and keep your eyes on the road 

If a deer or other wildlife crosses your path: 

• Brake 
• Sound your horn 
• Do not swerve – this risks a loss of control 

You may also encounter large farm equipment. This is where farmers live and work so they occasionally travel the roads with heavy machinery. Near farm equipment:

• Be patient - farm equipment often travels slowly, so be prepared to wait for a safe opportunity to pass.
• Observe turn signals and hand signals -pay close attention to the operator's signals, as farm equipment may swing wide to make turns.
• Ensure clear visibility - make sure you have a clear view ahead before attempting to pass.
• Pass with extreme caution - farm equipment can be large and difficult to maneuver, so approach the pass with caution.
• Don't tailgate - maintain a safe following distance behind the farm equipment.
• Avoid passing on curves, hills, intersections or no passing zones: These areas can be dangerous for passing, so avoid them.
• Don't pass and then stop - if you pass and then slow down or stop directly in front of the farm vehicle, you could cause a collision.
• Be aware of potential turns - farm equipment may swing wide to make turns, so be prepared for this.
• Don't pass equipment at intersections - equipment may turn without the ability to signal or see traffic behind the equipment.

The City of Ottawa is also committed to making engineering improvements to rural roads to improve safety through engineering, enforcement and education, including:

• Engineering
  • Intersection lighting – Prioritizing locations where no lighting existed before or upgrade existing lighting to meet standards
  • Rural roadway signage and lighting – Proactively identify rural stop locations for upgrading for oversized stop signs, stop ahead signs, flashing LED beacon and/or marker lighting at high high-risk collision locations.
  • Maintenance on rural roads – Identifying shoulder maintenance priorities
  • Safety edge – incorporating safety edge as part of resurfacing and roadway modification projects on roadways within rural area were possible. Safety edge refers to the technique of beveling the edge of the asphalt on roads without curbs. This allows motorists who partially leave the road to recover without over-correcting, or catching a wheel edge.
  • Upgrading rural “skewed” intersections - Prioritizing locations for upgrade from rural "skewed" intersection to standard intersection.
• Enforcement
  • Conducting an automated speed enforcement pilot study in four rural villages
  • Working in conjunction with the Ottawa Police Service to conduct rural speed enforcement.
• Education
  • Conducting education and outreach related to the operation of Motorized Recreational Vehicles (ATVs) in schools in the rural area to ensure all road users are aware of hazards and safe operation.

The City of Ottawa continues to make improvements to the safety of our roads and pathways with an emphasis on protecting vulnerable users – pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. The City’s 2020-2024 Road Safety Action Plan guides these engineering, education and enforcement initiatives. But even the safest transportation network requires that everyone follows the rules of the road for their mode of transportation.